The year has begun with a bang, and now the first month of 2017 is coming to a close. Which is honestly hard for me to admit! My goal is to make it a year to remember and a year for growth. To quote Douglas Wilson, “let’s use plants to bring life this year”. This week I want to talk about a great shade loving plant, this weeks Plant of the Week is Ligularia!

Why Use Ligularia in Your Landscaping?

A beautiful torch like spire of bright yellow blooms sits atop deep green foliage, illuminating a shaded spot. There are nearly 150 different species with leaves shaped like hearts and triangles. Blooms can be found in spikes or clusters sitting atop the dense foliage. Ligularia has very few insect or disease problems, but make sure to treat for slugs and keep in mind that too much sun will cause damage. Plant this in a moist location and it is a very easy plant to take care of year after year.

Where to Use Ligularia in Your Landscaping?

Ligularia wants to be planted in a wet location, so plant it in a bog garden or near a pond. However, it is also fine to plant and heavily water in less wet areas. I like to use these in mass around a shady pond to provide an intense burst of color at the location. The intense yellow blooms catch the eye and reflect off the water beautifully.  You can also bring a forest edge to life, by planting these just on the edge of the woods.

What does Eagleson Landscape Co. Think?

I think this is a wonderful plant, and a great option for those of you out there that think your shady yard can’t have life. I will give this plant a B- due to its limited availability in the landscape. However, for those of you with a wet shady yard, I urge you to look into and consider this plant. It is stunning when in bloom and its unique foliage makes it an interesting piece all summer long. Read more about Ligularia here and I hope all of you are enjoying the start of 2017! Take care and make your landscape your own this year.